FEMALE SNAKE-BIRD. 133 



mens of both at the same time. I remember that the upper parts of the 

 female were .similar to those of the male, except that the color and 

 markings were not so pure and distinct ; length thirty-six inches, extent 

 forty-six. These birds frequent the ponds, rivers and creeks, during 

 the summer ; build in the trees of the swamps, and those of the islands 

 in the ponds ; they construct their nests of sticks ; eggs of a sky blue 

 color. I inspected a nest, which was not very large ; it contained two 

 eggs and six young ones, the latter varying much in size ; they will 

 occupy the same tree for a series of years. They commonly sit on ii 

 stump, which rises out of the water, in the mornings of the spring, and 

 spread their wings to the sun, from which circumstance they have 

 obtained the appellation of Sun-birds. They are difficult to be shot 

 when swimming, in consequence of only their heads being above the 

 water." 



Never having seen a specimen of the Black-bellied Darter of Senegal 

 and Java, I cannot give an opinion touching its identity with ours.* 



* From Mr. Ord's Supplementary Yolume. 



hid 



